Oil tank filling alarm



p 1956 M. GELLER OIL TANK FILLING ALARM Filed Aug. 14, 1952 INVENTOR. NGELLEQ FIG. 6

United rates Fatent (ill TANK FELING ALARM Michael Geiler, Toronto,Ontario, Qanada Application August 14, 1952, Serial No. 304,243

Ciaims. (Cl. 116-110) This invention relates to a device designed tosignal when a tank or like closed vessel associated therewith is beingfilled, the cessation of the signal denoting the tank to have beenfilled at least to a predetermined level. Such devices are especiallyuseful in those locations where the tank itself is not readilyaccessible for visual inspection and/ or where it must be filled from aremote point through a conduit. Situations of this nature are frequentlyfound in oil heating installations, for example, where the oil storagetank is located in the cellar of a building adjacent the heating plantand is filled from the exterior of the building through a pipe.

Specifically, the invention visualizes an indicating element whichautomatically signals when the tank is being filled. Also contemplatedis means for incapacitating said indicating element; the incapacitatingmeans being operable by a level responsive element which may be a float,for example. The indicating element goes into operation as soon as thefilling of the tank commences and continues its operation until thelevel of the tank contents has reached a height, predetermined by therelative location of the float at which time the float will commence toact to set the signal incapacitating means into operation to procure thecessation of the signal, thereby indicating that the tank has beensufiiciently filled.

Such indicating element may be of the sonorous type and may be actuatedby the gases displaced from the tank by the entering liquid. Thisindicating element or whistle is preferably installed in a conventionalventing circuit which also leads to the exterior of the building,usually to a point adjacent the fill pipe. Thus, without leaving thefilling position an operator, noting the signal, will continue fillingthe tank until the cessation thereof denotes the tank to have beenadequately filled.

While the broad idea of a signalling device for the purposes hereinvisualized is not new, the principle object of the invention is toprovide an improved device of this character which is economical tomake, positive in action, and simple to install particularly in anexisting system not already equipped therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter whose parts are normally arranged to direct and permit thevented gases to pass through and actuate the associated indicatingelement; one at least, of the said parts being movable to preclude thevented gases from actuating the said indicating element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which a level responsive means is employed for disturbingthe relationship of the parts to procure the cessation of the signalunder appropriate circumstances.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter above described wherein the movement of the part or partscausing the cessation of the signal will automatically provide analternative escape opening for the vented gases and thereby preventincreased gas pressure from developing within the tank as a result ofover-filling.

Patented Sept. 4, 1956 It is a still further object of the invention toprovide a signalling device of the present character having breathingfacilities to enable the liquid contents to be withdrawn from the tankeven when it is over-filled without tending to create a vacuum.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention which will hereinafterappear are attained by means of the constructions hereinafter describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a small scale isometric view of a tank installed in thebasement of a building and having a vent and fill piping which extendsthrough the basement wall to the exterior; the invention being includedin the vent circuit.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the invention mounted inthe upper portion of the tank, which latter is sectioned.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the invention with certain parts removedtherefrom.

Fig. 4 is a section along the line IVlV in Fig. 2 illustrating thenormal relationship of the parts, i. e. when the tank is less than full.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the relationship of theparts when the tank has been filled to the predetermined level, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 illustrating the relationshipof the parts when the tank has been filled past the predetermined levelor overfilled.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin the difierent figures.

As suggested by the brief descriptions of the drawings, three conditionsof the tank are visualized:

(a) The normal or under-filled condition illustrated in Fig. 4,

(b) The filled condition illustrated in Fig. 5, and

(c) The over-filled condition illustrated in Fig. 6.

As shown in the attached drawings the embodiment of the inventionselected for exemplary purposes includes the open-ended tubular fitting1 which is designed to be installed as an element in the vent circuitwhich is comprised of the vent opening 2 at the top of the tank 3 andthe piping 4 leading therefrom to the exterior atmosphere. Below thethreading 5 by means of which it may be installed in the vent opening 2,for example, the fitting 1 has a skirt 6 which narrows or converges atthe bottom to form a valve seat 7. Spider arms 88 curve downwardly fromthe valve seat '7 to form a bearing 9 located well below and concentricwith fitting 1; a top plan view of the foregoing constriction beingaiforded by Fig. 3.

Fitting 1 provides housing for the indicating element which is, in thiscase, the whistle 16, which has spaced upper and lower walls 11-11 withconventional central apertures 12-12 which are large enough to permitthe passage of gases at the pressure normally created by the entry ofliquid in the tank. The whistle It} is held in a perimetrical mounting13 conforming in shape and dimension to the valve seat 7 in which it isnormally designed to seat.

It will therefore be seen that when the whistle mounting 13 is in placeon the valve seat 7, the gases displaced by the filling of the tank willbe able to escape only through the whistle 11) whose apertures aresufiiciently large for the purpose, thus signalling that the tank 3 isbeing filled substantially as shown in Fig. 4. On the other hand, if themounting is lifted off the valve seat 7 as in Fig. 6, the gases willbypass the whistle l5) and will not cause it to sound.

The invention also visualizes a float 15 within the tank 3 having a stem16 rigidly secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom towards thefitting 1 and vertically slidable in the bearing 9. The top of the stem16 consists of a head 17 which is preferably domed and has a screwdriver type of slot 18 whose purpose will duly appear. It will beobvious as shown in Figs. 4, and 6 that the stem head 17 isalwaysaligned with the somewhat smaller aperture 12 in the lower whistleWall 11 and can be raised to block it, to obstruct the flow of gastherethrough and to silence the whistle 16 substantially as shown inFigure 5. Actually, tests have shown that mere proximity of the parts issutiicient to achieve this latter result. The maximum spacing betweenthe stem head 17 and the whistle ill is hence re uncd to be only enoughto prevent the latter from being silenced.

Inasmuch as the float is designed to be raised by the filling of thetank 3 it will be seen that lengthening or shortening the stem 16 willhave the effect of silencing the whistle 10 at an earlier or lat r pointin the filling of the tank 3. On the other hand, if the 1 lling shouldbe continued after the lower aperture 12 is blocked, the continued riseof the float l5 and stem 16 will merely result in the bodily lifting ofthe whistle 1t and its mounting 13 oil the valve seat 7 as shown in Fig.6 thus affording an escapement for the vented gases and preventing theiraccumulation under pressure. These two results follow each other soclosely that they may be regarded as substantially simultaneous for allpractical purposes.

To ensure that the mounting 13 will always remain in the central axis ofthe valve seat 7, arms 202t) depending from the former meet centrally ofthe device to form a secondary hearing or sleeve 21 for the stem 16.

The principal advantage accruing from the mechanical lifting of themounting 13 when the tank 3 is overfilled resides in that increased gaspressures are prevented from forming in the tank 3. Were such increasedpressures allowed to arise, the gases would seek to escape through thetank-filling circuit 22 which is the only remaining port and thus blowback some of the entering liquid.

The prior art discloses related devices in which the gases ventedthrough a whistle must first pass through a pendant tube. When the tankcontents reach and seal the mouth of the tube, the whistle iconsequently silenced. Continued filling in these instances merelyresults in the deeper immersion of the tube in the liquid. Thesubsequent withdrawal of the liquid is resultantly hampered by the factthat air cannot freely enter the tank to replace the evacuated liquid.This tends to create a partial vacuum which increases the load on theassociated pumping system and hence deleteriously afiects it.

The present invention avoids this contingency by omitting the use ofthis tube or any equivalent thereof and by arranging the parts so thatthe mounting 13 is supported in an elevated position on the float stem16 leaving a breather opening into the tank 3 at all times when it isoverfilled. As the level of the tank contents decreases, one of thefirst results will be the dropping of the mounting 13 back to its normalposition on the valve seat 7. At this precise point the stern head 17will still be engaged in the lower whistle aperture 12. It is tomaintain these essential breathing facilities that the stem head 17 isprovided with the aforesaid slot 18; air being at that time adapted toenter the tank 3 through the whistle 10, and through the said slot 18.

The conventional tank is usually formed of relatively light-gaugematerial with vent, fill, and other openings. Owing to the thinness ofthe component material, an interiorly threaded spud 23 is usually weldedto the tank around each of the various openings; the purpose thereof tofunction much the same as a reducing coupling. Thus the installation ofthe present device in an existing vent circuit often involves merely itssubstitution for the previous reducing coupling, thereby avoidingfurther pipe cutting and fitting.

Notwithstanding that it is quite obvious, it should perhaps still bepointed out that the whistle 10 and mounting 13 can also be unseatedfrom the valve seat 7 by mere gas pressure; independently, that is, ofany lifting force ied thereto by the float and stem 15 and 1:3. The w..le apertures are quite adequate for venting the gases displaced ataverage tank-filling rates. If for any reason, however, the gas pressurein the tank 3 exceeds the venting capacity of the whistle apertures, thewhistle and mounting and 13 will be displaced bodily by such excessivepressures to unblock the fitting 1 and permit the free escape of thegases.

The foregoing submission also places considerable emphasis on theopening of a gas by-pass around the whistle ill) co-incidentally withthe silencing thereof by the stem head 17. Understandably, however, themagnitude of the said by-pass is not herein contemplated to have anyspecific value or to be of any specific degree. Three main factorsgovern the magnitude of the by-pass, namely: the size and density of thefloat 15, the specific gravity of the liquid in the tank 3, and theweight of the whistle and the mounting ill and 13.

Notwithstanding the inadequacy of one or more of these factors to etecta substantial lifting of the whistle 10, it is nevertheless true thatonce the stem head 17 contacts the whistle fill it will apply an upwardforce ereto to open at least a minute by-pass. In addition, this actionwill also at least tend to reduce the effective weight of the whistle1i) whereby the gas pressure required to unseat it will be materiallyreduced.

The importance and significance or" this result will be appreciated inview of the fact that once the stem head 17 blocks the whistle it), theventing capacity of the latter will be substantially decreased if notentirely obliterated and this occurs at a stage in the filling of thetank 3 when gas pressures build rather rapidly.

Under these conditions, the fact that the opening of a by-pass isfacilitated as above set forth imparts an important advantage to theinvention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A signalling device for the vent circuit of a liquid storage tankcomprising a tubular fitting adapted to be installed in said ventcircuit and to become a part thereof; a gas-operable indicating elementdisposed in and normally blocking the said fitting, said indicatingelement having apertures forming a passageway for gases; means forincapacitating said indicating element normally disposed innon-incapacitating relation thereto; a float below the indicatingelement; a stem rigidly secured thereto and movable therewith, and abearing for the said stem carried by the fitting; the stem beingslidable in the hearing to disturb the normal relationship of theindicating element and its incapacitating means to incapacitate theformer and to substantially simultaneously open a gas by-pass around it.

2. A signalling device for the vent circuit of a liquid storage tankcomprising a tubular fitting adapted to be installed in said ventcircuit and to become a part thereof; a whistle disposed in and normallyblocking said fitting and having apertures forming a passageway forgases; means for incapacitating said whistle normally disposed innon-incapacitating relation thereto; a float below the fitting; a stemrigidly secured thereto and movable therewith, and a bearing for thesaid stem carried by the fitting; the stem being slidable in the bearingto bring the whistle and its incapacitating means into close proximityto silence the former and to substantially simultaneously move it out offitting blocking position.

3. A signalling device for the vent circuit of a liquid storage tankcomprising a tubular fitting adapted to be installed in said ventcircuit and to become a part thereof; a whistle disposed in and normallyblocking the said fitting and having apertures forming a passageway; afloat below the whistle; a stern secured to and movable with the float,and a bearing for the stem carried by the fitting; the stem beingslidable in the said bearing to block the passageway through the whistleand to substantially simultaneously move it out of fitting blockingposition.

4. The signalling device disclosed in claim 3 wherein the whistle isblocked by the top of the stern which is somewhat larger than thewhistle apertures and is slotted.

5. A signalling device adapted to be cornmunicatingly installed betweena liquid storage tank and a tank vent circuit comprising a tubularfitting having external tank engagement threading and internal vent pipeengagement threading both located adjacent the top of the fitting, askirt depending therefrom and a narrowed valve seat at the bottom of theskirt; a whistle seated on said valve seat and having apertures forminga passageway; a float;

a stem secured to and movable therewith; spider arms depending from thefitting and merging therebelow to form a bearing for the stem, and aslotted head at the top of the stem.

6. A signalling device for the vent circuit of a liquid storage tankcomprising a tubular fitting adapted to be installed in said ventcircuit and to become a part thereof; a gas-operable indicating elementhaving apertures forming a gas-venting passageway therethrough disposedin and normally blocking said fitting, said indicating element beingbodily displaceable by gas pressures exceeding the venting capacity ofthe aforesaid apertures to allow the gases to escape through the fittingaround the said indicating element; a float disposed below the saidindicating element and means controllable thereby to incapacitate thesaid indicating element and to substantially simultaneously apply forcethereto to render it more readily displaceable by gas pressure.

7. A signalling device for the vent circuit of a liquid storage tankcomprising a tubular fitting adapted to be installed in said ventcircuit and to become a part thereof; a whistle having apertures forminga gas-venting passageway therethrough disposed in and normally blockingsaid fitting, said whistle being bodily displaceable by gas pressuresexceeding the venting capacity of its apertures to allow the gases toescape through the fitting around the Whistle; a float disposed belowthe said whistle and means controllable thereby to block the passagewaythrough the whistle and to substantially simultaneously apply force tothe latter to render it more readily displaceable by gas pressure.

8. A signalling device for the vent circuit of a liquid storage tankcomprising a tubular fitting adapted to be installed in said ventcircuit and to become a part thereof; a gas operable indicating elementhaving apertures forming a gas-venting passageway therethrough disposedin and normally blocking the said fitting, said indicating element beingbodily displaceable by gas pressures exceedin" the venting capacity orthe aforesaid apertures to allow the gases to escape through the fittingaround the said indicating element; means for incapacitating saidindicating element normally disposed in non-incapacita ing relationthereto; a float below the indicating element; a stem rigidly securedthereto and movable therewith, and a bearing for the said stern carriedby the fitting; the stem being slidable in the bearing to disturb thenormal relationship of the indicating element and its incapacitatingmeans to incapacitate the former and to substantially simultaneouslyapply force thereto to render it more readily displaceable by gaspressure.

9. A signalling device for the vent circuit of a liquid storage tankcomprising a tubular fitting adapted to be installed in said ventcircuit and to become a part thereof; a whistle having apertures forminga gas-venting passageway therethrough disposed in and normally blockingthe said fitting, said Whistle being bodily displaceable by gaspressures exceeding the venting capacity of its apertures to allow thegases to escape through the fitting around the said whistle; means forincapacitating the said whistle normally disposed in non-incapacitatingrelation thereto; a float below the fitting; a stem rigidly securedthereto and movable therewith, and a bearing for the said stern carriedby the fitting; the stem being slidable in the bearing to bring thewhistle and its incapacitating means into proximity to block thepassageway through the whistle and to substantially simultaneously applyforce to the latter to render it more readily displaceable by gaspressure.

10. A signalling device adapted to be communicatingly installed betweena liquid storage tank and a tank vent circuit comprising a tubularfitting engageable in an opening at the top of the tank and having anarrowed valve seat at its bottom; a whistle having apertures forming agas-venting passageway normally seated on the valve seat to block thesaid fitting; said whistle being bodily displaceable by gas pressuresexceeding the venting capacity of its apertures to allow the said gasesto escape through the fitting around the whistle; means for coupling thevent circuit to receive the gases vented through the said fitting;whistle incapacitating means normally disposed in non-incapacitatingrelation thereto, and a float coupled and movable to bring the whistleand its incapacitating means into close proximity to silence the formerby blocking the passageway therethrough and to substantiallysimultaneously apply force thereto to render it more readilydisplaceable by gas pressure.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,143,492 Morse Jan. 10, 1939 2,143,706 Mathey Jan. 10, 1939 2,233,229Tapp Feb. 25, 1941 2,276,798 Scully et a1. Mar. 17, 1942 2,429,280Scully Oct. 21, 1947

